Rise Of The Auto Industry

Roger Lin, 11th Grader || 9.12.18

The auto industry began when the first practical automobile was built by Karl Benz in 1885 in Germany. The history of the automobile started with the creation of steam engined automobiles capable of human transport. In 1806, the first cars powered by an internal combustion engine running on fuel gas appeared, which led to the introduction in 1885 of the ubiquitous modern gasoline- or petrol-fueled internal combustion engine. Cars powered by electric power briefly appeared at the turn of the 20th century, but largely disappeared from use until the turn of the 21st century. Since then, several others have perfected the automobile to what we now know as the car. The automobile serves as a primary mode of transportation for many developed economies.

During the first two centuries after the creation of the car, automobiles had a fairly limited audience. Because they were expensive and time consuming to produce, most cars were too costly for anybody who wasn’t rich. Close to the end of World War I, Ford was the main manufacturer, dominating the automotive scene with the Model T not only in the United States but also through branch plants throughout the world. British Ford was the largest single producer in the United Kingdom. GM was also emerging as a potential major competitor in the United States. No other automotive firms of comparable size existed.

Since the automobile was invented, the industry has risen, causing several countries to rise to the top in global production of motorvehicles. In 2000, there were about 59 million motorvehicles being produced worldwide. In 2010, there were about 78 million motorvehicles, production having increased by around 20 million.

In 2011, the top country in global vehicle production was China, with around 18 million vehicles produced per year. The U.S. came second, ranging at about 8.7 million vehicles, and Japan at a close third, at around 8.4 million. In 2010, the top vehicle manufacturing groups were Toyota Motor Corporation, with General Motors Company second, and Volkswagen Group AG third.

Travel has become a part of daily life. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, going to work, or going on a road trip, automobiles have become essential to the age which we live in, one where daily tasks require an easier way to cover distance in a faster, and more efficient way. It influences how people live and work, and where they spend their time. As demand for automobiles rose, the production has boomed. Soon vehicles were easy to buy, and there were several different types and varieties of car you could choose from.

Production in the ‘70s was around 50 million vehicles per year, and at 2010, they were nearly 80 million. In those 40 years, automobiles implanted themselves deeper and deeper in human civilization. Without automobiles, lives would be affected and futures changed. With the growing need for automobiles, companies started to grow and expand until they were producing worldwide. Car factories started to appear, and production increased at an incredible rate.

Now, cars bustle around everywhere you look, and they occupy the streets every single hour of the day. Automobiles have greatly changed society and so have the countless numbers of manufacturing companies thriving today.